| rev:text
| - I still sometimes find myself calling it "Squaw Peak" like many of my native Arizonan friends - those born here and raised - and though I can't claim that status....I have been in-out-around these parts for awhile now and things have changed...like the name of this mountain. April, 2008: "The US Board of Geographic Names voted to officially change the name of a prominent Phoenix mountain to "Piestewa Peak" to honor the first American Indian woman to die in combat while serving in the US Military."A bit of a controversy as most things go...Here's the full clip if you are interested: http://tucson.com/news/squaw-peak-is-officially-renamed-for-piestewa/article_0b6fd7ed-b6fb-5444-9231-8d7ac2283b6d.html
At an elevation of 2612' - Piestewa Peak is the second highest point in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve (after Camelback at 2,707'.) The Summit Trail is an elevation gain of 1,208 feet (1.2 miles) and is a good cardio workout. (Camelback is too, but this one is more like steady stair climbing whereas Camelback is more physical/more boulders and variations of steepness.) I like them both and the drawback of both: they are equally crowded. The last time I hiked Squaw Peak, I was intrigued to discover many different men's colognes while passing the fittest and fastest of all ages of male hiker. Odd memory, I know! But overall, I just feel like this little peak is more "citified" while Camelback still feels a bit more rugged. (All I can tell you is that I have no mens' fragrance memories from Camelback - none that you can buy at a fine retailer, anyway! Ha)
For me, this summit trail feels "easier" than Camelback (both on ascent and descent). The scenery is lovely and there is some wildlife here and there. (Still never seen a snake of any variety - knock on petrified wood - don't care to.)
Parking was a drag twenty years ago (especially during after-work, weekend mornings) but I now have a friend who resides nearby so I haven't dealt with any parking in awhile. Best advice is always to come at off-times: midday, weekday etc. (It gets hot fast of course, so bring adequate hydration, nutrition etc.) There are restrooms at the parking location along Squaw Peak Drive. Here is the link to "City of Phoenix" so you can check out the parking as well as the multiple trails in this recreation area (even if you decide not to venture to the top, there are some nice hikes!) https://www.phoenix.gov/parks/trails/locations/piestewa-peak/hiking-trail-map
Even if parking is tight, I still feel that a gem like this, smack dab in the middle of city/residential - free access - is "as good as it gets." Dab on some cologne, lace up the boots and get going!
PS- Actually, can get by with a low cut trail shoe...some even wear plain running shoes but the loose rock may getcha, as it can on any trail.
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)
![[cxml]](/fct/images/cxml_doc.png)
![[csv]](/fct/images/csv_doc.png)
![[text]](/fct/images/ntriples_doc.png)
![[turtle]](/fct/images/n3turtle_doc.png)
![[ld+json]](/fct/images/jsonld_doc.png)
![[rdf+json]](/fct/images/json_doc.png)
![[rdf+xml]](/fct/images/xml_doc.png)
![[atom+xml]](/fct/images/atom_doc.png)
![[html]](/fct/images/html_doc.png)